Last Tuesday several of us stayed out on the reserve till gone midnight to see what we could hear out on the marsh but with the ulterior motive of seeing whether we too could find a singing Baillon's Crake.
This Starling sized relative of the Water Rail is exceptionally secretive and usually located by its rasping song given after dark!
We were unsuccessful on this occasion but news has now been released about an RSPB survey this year across other reserves to see whether Baillon's Crakes were in fact lurking in our sedge and reed beds.
It is exceptionally rare in the UK.... or is it??
Flowering Rush - one of their favourite habitats.... we have lots! (Mark Hart)
Click here to gave a read of the story that is currently raising a few eyebrows in the birding community!
....and just in case you were wondering what they look like... here is one that we saw in Lesvos back in May!
I have put this in bold just in case anyone thinks that it was on the marsh!!!
(Sam Shippey)
1-8-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer